Postal Reporter Marina P and DC To Be SOLD- Over 1200 Postal Employees Affected

Marina P & DC To Be SOLD- Over 1200 Postal Employees Affected

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Del Rey: Neighborhood Council exploring purchase of Postal Service site near Home Depot for park (4/21/05)

The Del Rey Neighborhood Council is exploring the possibility of acquiring the property currently holding the U.S. Postal Service Marina Processing and Distribution Center, 13031 Jefferson Blvd., Del Rey area, to develop park space that may be used by Del Rey and surrounding communities. The U.S. Postal Service has approved the closing of its Marina Processing Center to consolidate operations into the larger Los Angeles Processing Center at 7001 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles.

Postal Service officials have said they expect all operations to be moved out of the Marina Processing Center by Thursday, July 14th. The Marina Center property covers approximately 20 acres.

The Postal Service has not released plans for a sale of the property, but Del Rey community members are looking at the possibility of acquiring the property for park space and community use if and when the property is up for sale.

Larry Dozier, a spokesman for the Postal Service, said a "very conservative" appraisal of $35 million was given for the property, but "when the property is put on the market it'll go for what the market will bear."

Informational Picket for Marina del Rey P & DC Closure Planned (4/11/05)

he Inglewood APWU has invited all Concerned Citizens, Union Members, US, State and City representatives to participate in an Informational Picket to be held at the Marina Processing and Distribution Center located at 13031 Jefferson Blvd on TAX COLLECTION NIGHT, April 15th, 2005 from 12:00pm to 12:00am. This Informational Picket will be a continuation of the Inglewood APWU's efforts to inform members of the public about the adverse affects the closure of the Marina Processing and Distribution Center will have on Mail Service for the entire Los Angeles Metropolitan.

Additionally, there is a group of concerned citizens from the Marina Del Rey, Culver City, Los Angeles Area whom have established a website, www.sompp.com, SAVE OUR MARINA PROCESSING PLANT, to inform and solicit support from the community in the continues effort to stop the closure.

The Pacific Area USPS received approval from USPS Headquarters to close the Marina P&DC on January 10th, 2005. The proposed closure date for the Marina Plant is July 14th, 2005.

In reviewing the Area Mail Processing Report justifying the closure of the Marina P&DC, the APWU has consulted with Attorneys and Certified Public Accountants and determined that the AMP Report is flawed and contains inaccurate data. In addition, the AMP Report values the Marina P&DC property at approximately $35 million. In August 2004, when the USPS first proposed closing the Marina P&DC to the APWU, the USPS had stated that the expected value for the Marina P&DC property was approximately $200 million.

Who is purchasing the Marina property?
Are they paying fair market value?
Will the USPS offer the property for open bidding?
Is there a sweetheart purchase deal in the works or completed?

In discussions with staff of a certain Congressperson on Friday, April 8th, 2005, the Inglewood APWU was informed that this Congressperson was satisfied with the USPS actions in closing the Marina P&DC and that their office was no longer investigating the issue. In questioning the Congressperson's position, the APWU was informed that the Congressperson was satisfied that the USPS was making every effort to place all affected employees in comparable jobs. Additionally, the USPS had promised (verbally) the Congressperson that there would be no degradation of Postal Service for the community.

While the Inglewood APWU has provided argument and documentation to raise considerable questions regarding the closure of the Marina P&DC and the expected impacts to the Los Angeles Community, it was reported that the USPS offered no such contrary documentation to the Congresswoman.

It appears that this Congressperson has advanced the wrong issue as it is related to the Marina P&DC Closure. The issue has always been and continues to be the impacts on the community. The issue is not APWU employment. The APWU has been successful in negotiating a no layoff clause for their members, thereby eliminating the job loss questions. JOBS are not the Issue. The issue is clearly reduced mail service, reduced mail collection times, delayed mail service, Mail Carriers completing mail routes at 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 at night, increased traffic flow into the Los Angeles Area and the reduction in available Bio Hazard Back Up Systems accomplished with the closure of the Marina P&DC.

The Inglewood APWU is requesting your attendance at the Informational Picket on April 15th, 2005. The members of the Inglewood APWU and concerned citizens of the Los Angeles Community will greatly appreciate your participation.

JOHN DRIVER
APWU President

USPS will keep Alla Vista Post Office open after Marina Del Rey P &DC moves-The adjacent Alla Vista retail facility was originally scheduled to close along with the Marina Processing Center, but the Postal Service wants to allow for continued convenience for its customers, Dozier said. John Driver, American Postal Workers Union president for the Marina Center called Postal Service plans to keep the Alla Vista unit open indefinitely a "publicity stunt." (2/11/05)

APWU May Take USPS to Court Over Marina del Rey Closure-The Postal Service expects to start moving some of the Marina Center operations within 30 days. "We'll see which operations we can move first with the least amount of effect on the customers," Dozier said. While the decision to close the Marina Center has been made, the potential plans for a sale of the property are unknown as this is now in the hands of the Postal Service facility operations, he said. The union will continue to take action and may take the issue to court by seeking the support of local city councils and members of Congress, to allow for input by the public and local businesses, Driver said. "We're still going to fight to try and stop the closure," Driver said. "The only people who can stop it now is the public." (1/20/05)

Marina del Rey Postal Center Slated for Closure (Daily Breeze)

In a move it says few costumers will notice, the U.S. Postal Service has finalized plans to close its large Marina del Rey processing center and move operations to a facility in South Los Angeles. New technology allows the post office to process more mail in less space, making the Jefferson Boulevard plant redundant, spokesman Larry Dozier said. No jobs will be lost in the move, which is expected to be completed by early summer. The 900 employees from the Marina del Rey plant will be relocated, officials said. (1/15/05)

Stop the Marina Post Office Closure (3/1/05)

To the Editor,

I am the President of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) for the 600+ Clerk and Maintenance employees working at the Marina Processing and Distribution Center (Marina P&DC). The Marina Facility houses the Alla Vista Retail Unit, the Inglewood Bulk Mail Unit (BMEU) and the Marina P&DC.

The Alla Vista Retail Unit, which opened in late 2002, has quickly become one of the USPS leaders in Revenue, Volume, Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction. This has been accomplished through the very friendly and professional staff of Marina USPS employees who work in the Alla Vista Unit. Contributing to this high level of service, is the direct relation to the Marina P&DC, where Alla Vista mail service receives expeditious handling by the proficient staff of the Marina P&DC. It has been reported by many Alla Vista customers that mail deposited at the Alla Vista Retail Unit and the Marina P&DC arrives two to three days faster than other USPS facilities. With the closure of the Marina P&DC, mail deposited at Alla Vista will be transported to the South Central Los Angeles P&DC for processing.

The Marina Facility also houses the Inglewood BMEU, which accepts bulk mailings from 100's of local business owners/mailers. The BMEU, recently finished a complete renovation and was outfitted with new state of the art technology, also is staffed with a highly professional and customer friendly staff of employees, who have become a staple in the local community. Most mail deposited in the Inglewood BMEU is entitled to a SCF discount. The Inglewood BMEU generated approximately $37 million in revenue in 2004. With the closure of the Marina Facility, the BMEU will be eliminated.

In addition to the Alla Vista and BMEU operations, the Marina P&DC is the dedicated facility for incoming and outgoing mail operations for the cities of Bell, Beverly Hills, Compton, Culver City, Downey, El Segundo, Gardena, Huntington Park, Lawndale, Lynwood, Malibu, Hermosa Beach, Hawthorne, Maywood, Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach, South Gate, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Inglewood, Santa Monica, Torrance, Pacific Palisades, Redondo Beach and Topanga. With the closure of the Marina Facility, these cities' mail will be transported to and processed at the South Central Los Angeles P&DC.

The APWU conducted Informational Pickets at the Marina P&DC during the months of September through December 2004 in an effort to inform the public about the planned closure of the Marina Facility. The APWU is asking for the support of US, State and Local Government Officials in our efforts to keep the Marina Facility open. The APWU is asking for a Governmental Accounting Office Review and an Inspector General Review on the planned closure of the Marina Facility. Additionally, the APWU is asking for the support of the residents and businesses in the community to write, fax and telephone your governmental representatives and advise them of your desire to keep the Marina Facility open and demand that both a GAO and IG study be performed to assure the high level of service the community has been provided by the USPS employees of the Marina Facility is maintained. In addition to your local representatives the APWU asks that you specifically communicate with:

Congresswoman
JANE HARMAN
2321 E. Rosecrans Bl. #3270
El Segundo, CA 90245
310-643-3636 office
310-643-6445 fax

John Driver
APWU President

Congresswoman
MAXINE WATERS
10124 S. Broadway, #1
Los Angeles, CA 90003
323-757-8900 office
323-757-9506 fax

Congressman
HENRY WAXMAN
8436 W. 3rd St., #600
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323-651-1040 office
323-655-0502 fax

Postmaster General
JOHN E. POTTER
United States Postal Service
475 L' Enfant Plaza
Washington, DC 20260

USPS, Pacific Area Submits Proposal to Close Marina P & DC

posted October 28, 2004

The Pacific Area USPS has submitted a proposal to USPS HQ to close the Marina P&DC. Management is not providing the APWU with any information concerning this Proposal, Operational Impacts, AMP Reports, Work Hour Reports, Employee Impacts or any other information that can be used by the APWU to review, negotiate and discuss this issue. Management has begun moving AFCS machines, LMLM machines and redirecting Outgoing Collection Mail to other USPS plants. This has all taken place with NO notification to the Union at the Local, Area or National Level. The USPS has taken the position that proper notification should take place after the approval has been received from HQ. By that time, there will be no more operations at the Marina P&DC.

The Inglewood Local conducted an Informational Picket at the Marina Plant on October 15th, 2004. This picket had a great impact on the residents and businesses in the community. They had no knowledge of the proposed closure. The Inglewood Local is in the midst of a massive letter writing, fax, telephone campaign to our Local, State and US representatives. The Inglewood Local has been in direct communication with many of these representatives and they have expressed their outrage and concern about the closure, with several of them having initiated actions to investigate the proposed closure.

The Inglewood Local has scheduled a MASS INFORMATIONAL PICKET at the Marina P&DC for Friday, October 29th, 2004, just before the Presidential Elections between the hours of 8AM to 4PM. The Marina P&DC is located at 13031 Jefferson Blvd in Inglewood. Directions are 405 FWY to Jefferson Blvd, West on Jefferson approximately 2 miles to the Marina Plant, next to Home Depot.

The Inglewood Local is asking that our brothers and sisters from the APWU, NPMHU, NALC, ALF-CIO, their family, friends and neighbors who are able to attend, come out and support the Inglewood Local's efforts to stop the closure of the Marina P&DC. The Inglewood Local has invited the residents and businesses in the Community, Newspapers, Radio, Television as well as our Congress and Senate Representatives.

We need to make a GOOD STRONG SHOWING!!!!!

In the past, the USPS would provide the APWU with information concerning proposed closings and consolidation efforts. With this information, the APWU would be able to stop the closure or consolidation in many cases. It appears that the USPS has changed their tactics. It is now "AMBUSH" with no notification or documentation. The APWU is left to file Grievances and Labor Charges, which once adjudicated, the affected plants will be closed and the issue moot.

Let's work together to stop this new USPS tactic now, before it has a chance to succeed at the Marina P&DC. If we don't, be prepared to be the next VICTIM.

JOHN DRIVER
President
Inglewood Local 1099

Postal union members picket against closure of Marina sorting facility, Post Office

As first reported on 9/9/04- This letter is posted in Postal Reporter's Discussion forum. Other Southern Calif. offices are being notified to hold positions for excess employees, this includes maintenance, clerk, mail handler and carrier. If anyone from the effected offices has further info please post. From Postal Reporter Forum #s 1132 & 1138. More information will be reported as soon as it becomes available.

Postal Workers to Picket Over Closure/Sale of Marina P & DC

INFORMATIONAL PICKET

October 15^th, 2004

The American Postal Workers Union and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union are inviting representatives of the U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, California State Senate and Assembly as well as members of the News Media to attend and participate in an INFORMATIONAL PICKET being held at the Marina Processing and Distribution Center located at 13031 Jefferson Blvd on October 15^th, 2004 between 8am–8pm.

The United States Postal Service has submitted a proposal to USPS Headquarters in Washington D.C. to close the Marina Processing and Distribution Center and sell the property the facility is located on. The Marina Facility is the “Dedicated Processing Center” for the cities of BELL, BEVERLY HILLS, COMPTON, CULVER CITY, DOWNEY, GARDENA, EL SEGUNDO, HUNTINGTON PARK, LAWNDALE, MALIBU, LYNWOOD, HERMOSA BEACH, HAWTHORNE, MAYWOOD, VENICE, PALOS VERDES, MANHATTAN BEACH, SOUTH GATE, MARINA DEL REY, INGLEWOOD, TORRANCE, SANTA MONICA, REDONDO BEACH, TOPANGA, AND PACIFIC PALISADES.

The USPS is being very secretive about their plans for the Marina facility. The USPS has failed to inform the residents and businesses of the affected communities. In meetings with the representative unions, the USPS has refused to provide copies of their proposal to close the Marina, their plans for the mail operations affecting the above listed cities and their plans for placement of the affected employees, which number about 1,200. The USPS also refuses to identify the buyer of the facility!!! (Note should be made to a recent sale of USPS property in the state of Colorado. The USPS sold the property to a private interest for about $7million. In the following 72 hours, the property was split into two parcels, with one parcel being sold for about $12 million and the other parcel planned for development of a $65 million project.)

The Marina P&DC is amongst the top performers in the Nation and the State of California in terms of Customer Satisfaction, Performance, Mail Processing, Budget and Work Hours.
The Marina P&DC houses the Alla Vista Retail Station, opened in September 2002, which has become the #1 Inglewood Retail Unit in terms of Revenue and Volume. Many of these customers are outraged and are expressing their anger at the secretive actions of the USPS.
The Marina P&DC houses the Inglewood Bulk Mail Entry Unit, which handles approximately 700 business permits for residents and businesses of the surrounding community and generates approximately $40 million in annual revenue. The USPS has gone on record stating that these customers will be adversely affected, including the loss of their mailing discounts.
The Marina P&DC houses one of the largest federal roof-integrated solar voltaic system. This system was dedicated by State Senator Debra Bowen in April 2002 and provides electricity for homes within the community. With the closure, this structure will be eliminated (destroyed).

Please make an effort to attend and participate in this INFORMATIONAL PICKET and support the efforts of the APWU, NPMHU and the residents and businesses of the affected communities.

JOHN DRIVER
APWU (Inglewood, Calif.) President

Marina del Rey Postal Center Closure Likely

September 30, 2004 (source: from Postal Reporter reader)

Officials say South Bay customers won't notice the difference, but others warn of potentially slower delivery.

The U.S. Postal Service has drawn up plans to close the vast processing center that handles most of the South Bay's mail, a cost-cutting move it expects few customers will notice.

The closure would re-route billions of letters a year through another center in South Los Angeles. Postal workers warned that it could slow mail delivery from Beverly Hills to Rancho Palos Verdes.

The idea of shutting down the processing center has gone to the U.S. Postal Service's headquarters for final approval. At the earliest, the center would close in the first few months of next year.

Customers "won't even know it's moved," said Larry Dozier, a spokesman for the Postal Service in Los Angeles. "For the most part, it will be transparent to customers. They won't know the difference."

For now, the processing center in Marina del Rey handles the mail coming into and out of ZIP Codes that begin with 902 through 905 --which cover most of the South Bay. Letters pour into that center at a clip of about 800,000 a day.

The center also has a small post office and a drop-off site for bulk mailers. About 1,000 people work there.

The Postal Service's regional office wants to shift all the work done in Marina del Rey to a much larger center in Los Angeles. It could eliminate some 300 jobs that way, Dozier said, but it plans to accomplish that through attrition and not layoffs.

It also could sell the land out from under the center, likely worth tens of millions of dollars. It expects to save about $16 million a year in operational costs alone.

The Los Angeles center has the room and the equipment to handle the extra mail load, Dozier said. The closure "does seem likely," he said. "It looks pretty good."

But the American Postal Workers Union has rallied against the idea of shutting down the Marina del Rey center. It has claimed the move to South Los Angeles will delay the mail for some customers.

That might not be as much of a factor in the South Bay, (PR note: Inglewood, Calif. APWU ) union President John Driver said. Much of its addresses are at least as close to South Los Angeles as to the current processing center in Marina del Rey.

But Driver added the sheer volume of the mail redirected to Los Angeles could slow down the process. "The facility is only so big," he said.

September 3, 2004

To All Marina P&DC Employees,

In a joint effort between the APWU and the NPMHU, we communicate with you today with an extreme sense of urgency regarding your continued employment at the Marina P&DC. (located in Marina Del Rey, CA.)

   On Tuesday, August 24th, 2004, Los Angeles District Management informally advised the APWU, NPMHU, NALC and NAPS that the Pacific Area USPS has proposed selling the Marina P&DC property to private interests with an expected closure date of January 2005. During this meeting, facilitated by District Manager William Almarez, LA Plant Manager Earl Self and Marina Plant Manager John Holden, the service presented very sketchy details of two proposed scenarios pertaining to the consolidation of Marina P&DC operation with the Los Angeles GMF operation.

   During the meeting, it was very obvious that the USPS has given considerable thought to these proposals. Plans are in place for the relocation of Marina P&DC mail processing equipment, flat and secondary operations and mail transportation within the Los Angeles GMF. In complete contrast to these extensive plans, the USPS presented very little information to the Union in regards to the intended accommodation of the Marina P&DC employee workforce. The APWU and NPMHU are outraged by the arrogance of USPS management in this matter. To further complicate matters, the Los Angeles GMF is overstaffed, depending on whom you listen to, in the neighborhood of six hundred (600) employees. You do the MATH!!!!!!

   In order for the sale of the Marina P&DC to become a reality, the USPS must initially obtain approval from the Postmaster General and the Postal Board of Governors. If such approval is obtained, the USPS must then inform the community, residents and business of their intentions to sell, close and consolidate operations of the Marina P&DC and allow for open hearings to answer any questions and concerns raised by the affected customers.

   During the next several months, you will be bombarded with rumors, inaccurate information and misleading promises conceived by ill-advised supervisors and fellow employees. The NPMHU and APWU strongly demand that you avoid and ignore the hysteria and hype associated with this inaccurate information and focus on the efforts of your Union leadership.

   As your representatives, the APWU and NPMHU are working in a joint effort to formulate a strategy and follow through with these plans to effectively deal with the proposed sale of the Marina P&DC, the proposed movement of operations and the ill conceived accommodation of Marina P&DC employees.

   The NPMHU and the APWU will be conducting a joint informational meeting on Saturday, September 18, 2004. You will be informed of the location of this meeting by Wednesday, September 8, 2004. This meeting will address your questions and concerns and explain our strategy in handling this matter. There are many questions to be answered and there is considerable contract information to be shared with the workforce...Excessing, Consolidation, Voluntary Transfers, Reduction to PTF status and Loss Seniority to name a few. We strangely urge all dues paying members be in attendance at this meeting.

    More importantly, it is time for each of you to "GET OFF YOUR BUTTS" and fight for your jobs. The time for apathy and non-chalance must end immediately.

We as your representatives CANNOT win this battle alone. Each and every one of you, your family members, friends and business associates must join in the fight, otherwise be prepared to uproot your family and relocate to Phoenix, Arizona, Spokane, Washington of quite possibly the Southern California Employment office to file for your unemployment benefits

In Union Solidarity,

APWU Pres & NPMHU Branch president

QUESTIONS FROM NAPS MEMBERS TO USPS OFFICIAL

RESPONSE IN RED (download q & a in pdf format)

1. Administrative, BMEU/Retail to be determined. What will happen to the CFS Manager and the 2 CFS Supervisors? To Be Determined.(TBD)

2. How many managers and supervisor will be needed of the 36 the Marina Plant supervisors. What about the other EAS Affected? There is a total of 67 EAS positions affected and a few more that are domiciled in the Building. TBD

3. Will the MDOs who are at the Marina still have MDO positions? TBD If so, will they be upgraded to that of the LA Plant MDOs? YES

4. Currently there has been a shift of Mail from Bell, Downey, Huntington Park, South Gate and Lynwood. Does this mean the consolidation has already started? YES If not, what is going on?

5. Will the move be done in increments? YES If so, which supervisors will come first? TBD How will that be determined i.e. volunteers, junior seniority, etc. TBD. The Human Resource team members will determine and will announce at a later date.

6. If the Marina Plant supervisors are scheduled to come there, does that mean when we get there all the preferred areas will already be assigned? NO RESPONSE

7. Special Request – Can you make sure the Marina supervisors are trained the same way before you started issuing corrective action such as what has happen after the Long Beach District consolidation. AGREED, I THINK

8. How will the supervisors be slotted as far as annual leave? TBD

9. Have the work hour schedules been determined? TBD

10. Has it been determined the impact of additional cars and trucks in that area and additional traffic on the streets. No impact studies available at the meeting. but it was brought up that the residents in the neighborhood of the Marina Plant complained about the noise from the trucks at night.

The question was then asked, what about the neighbors in South Los Angeles, were they informed or was it considered that additional trucks would be traveling in the area? No Response.

11. Are you following the SOP procedures for Area Mail Processing Transformation Plan dated 2002? Team was not aware of those procedures, but if there are some procedures available it would be with In-Plant Support. If not, is there a copy of the procedures or policies you are using for closing down a Plant? See In-Plant Support

12. Will the additional savings go toward District and area NPA? Question wasn’t clear to the Consolidation team

13. If there is so much space available in Los Angeles such as the Where House, why not sale that property and downsize Los Angeles P & DC. No Response. It would seem like you would want to hold on to your most valuable asset which will be worth much more at a later date. No Response

14. Since you are selling the property that means Alla Vista has to be relocated. Have you already started the SOP procedure for closing down a post office? That has not been addressed at this time.

Additional Notes

The Marina Plant is 14.7 acres.

The decision was made to go with Proposal “A” and to keep all of the 902-905 mail together under AMP.

Los Angeles is about 77 acres. After Consolidation of World ways (estimated dated October) and the Marina P & DC estimated January 2005 LA P & DC will still be under capacity of 5000 employees.

The two SPBS machines will not be moved.

Los Angeles will be receiving Two APPs machines

It will affect outgoing letter volume 750,000 per night for Los Angeles and 600,000 per night for the Marina.

T-3 Outgoing is to be absorbed into the current operation.

Supplies and Material staging area will go to the BMC

The Areas at LA P & DC that will be affected will need to be postalized such as air, rewiring, etc.

CFS (L.A.) will possibly be consolidated (CFS-Inglewood –located at the Marina Plant) and moved. To be determined based on new PARS System.

Manual Secondary mail that’s to be moved to the 900 stations will receive necessaryWorkhours and staffing to go with the mail. There will be additional mail volume for the a.m. supervisors at the stations. Industrial Engineer will redevelop floor plans for the stations.

According to Area Team – All Marina P & DC employees, Inglewood employees domiciled and others located in building are considered impacted employees. Estimated at 1200 employees.

Information about the Marina Processing and Distribution Center

At the Marina Processing and Distribution Center in Marina Del Rey (Southern) California, the USPS has installed the country’s largest federal grid-connected solar photovoltaic system. The solar cells are estimated to save up to $28,000 a year.

PowerLight Solar Electric Systems case study: The United States Postal Service chose to implement an innovative combination of on-site renewable generation and demand control measures to reduce electrical demand and energy use at the Marina Mail Processing Center. Their partnership with PowerLight and Viron Energy Services led to the installation of a 127 kWp solar electric system atop the Marina del Rey facility, and a state wide energy information system for 27 US Postal Service sites. This energy information system gives the US Postal Service the ability to automatically shed over 4 megawatts of electrical load.

USPS Dedicates Largest Federal Roof-integrated Solar Energy Project in the Nation

127 kilowatt System Furnished by PowerLight and Siemens & Shell Solar with Incentives from Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power
April 12, 2002

MARINA DEL REY, CA -- The United States Postal Service today dedicated the nation’s largest federal roof-integrated solar photovoltaic installation at its Marina Mail Processing and Distribution Center in Marina del Rey, California.

The 127 kilowatt system was built and installed by PowerLight Corporation of Berkeley, California, using solar panels produced at Siemens & Shell Solar manufacturing facility in Chatsworth, California.

The system, which is capable of generating enough electricity to power 120 homes, will reduce the demand on California’s power grid and improve air quality by avoiding thousands of tons of polluting nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions.

The solar array, measuring 50 x 300 feet, produces clean power silently atop the roof of the postal facility; invisible to people on the ground and virtually maintenance free.

A large portion of the project’s cost was co-funded by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) under its Solar Incentive Program, and the Department of Energy’s Distributed Energy Resources Program.

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL), acting under an Inter-Agency Agreement with the U.S. Postal Service and on behalf of the DOE Federal Energy Management Program, provided key technical assistance on this project. LBNL provided guidance on site selection, system size and on the selection of technologies and contractors. In addition, LBNL assisted the USPS with applying for the rebates received by the project.

Officiating at today’s dedication ceremony was the Postal Service’s Pacific Area Environmental Compliance Manager Ray Levinson, joined by Los Angeles City Council Member Ruth Galanter, State Senator Debra Bowen, Director of the Federal Energy Management Program Beth Shearer, LADWP’s General Manager David Wiggs and Director of Strategic Planning Angelina Galiteva, as well as officials from the Postal Service, California Energy Commission, California Environmental Protection Agency, Siemens & Shell Solar and PowerLight Corporation.

"Installing solar photovoltaics in existing buildings and new construction is a sound, sensible way for us to use distributed energy resources to meet our renewable energy goals and minimize our impact on the environment," said Beth Shearer.

“Congratulations to the Postal Service for their use of solar power,” said Ruth Galanter. “I look forward to seeing this repeated each time the Service constructs or remodels a building.”

“Solar power is a cost-effective solution for the Postal Service to operate more energy-efficient facilities,” said Ray Levinson. “This project demonstrates that solar electrical power generated on-site is an affordable, clean and reliable energy source that reduces our dependency on foreign oil.”

LADWP INCENTIVE PROGRAM ENABLED SOLAR PROJECT “We’re pleased that LADWP’s Solar Incentive Program helped facilitate this installation,” said LADWP General Manager David Wiggs. “Our programs are focused on making solar a mainstream energy source, available to all LADWP customers.”

“LADWP’s Solar incentive program was designed to offer substantial cost reductions for solar power installations while encouraging local manufacturing and jobs,” said Angelina Galiteva. “The base incentive of $4.50 per watt was increased to $6 per watt for this project because the PowerLight solar system was manufactured in the city of Los Angeles at the new Siemens & Shell Solar Manufacturing Facility located in Chatsworth.”

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